Bottle-capping machine.



L. H. BRINKMAN. BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

1,094,776. 1 Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 SHEETSISHEET 1.

WITNESSES: V W W W JNVENTOR.

. WW ATTORNEY.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION :ILED NOV. 28, 1911.

1,094,776. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 8HEETS-$HEET 2..

my. 5. Fly. 4.

ITNESSES.-

JNVEQVTOR. 9W BY W ZUW ATTORNEY.

COLUMPM PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. C.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1911. 1,094,776..Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.7.

I I! 9 HI 1| 4/ 40 H\ WITNESSES: 75, INVENTOR.

W 1 BY QM Za 44 Maw/1 "ZITTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D c.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

Am 1 9 1 00 2 v. p A d .w n m a P L 1 9 1 B 2 0 N D E L r. I N 0 I T A GI L P. A

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIIIIIII I'm/mentor WM/mama L. H. BRINKMAN. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1911. 1,094,776. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

' INVENTOR.

WITNESSES W I W ATTORNEY.

FFFE TATFLS ATEFIT LOUIS f-I. BRINKMAN, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNGR TO GENERAL INDUS- TRIES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

To /wm only concern.

Be it known that i, LOUIS H. Barnum), a citizen oi the United States,residing at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex and State of Xew Jersey,have invented a new and useful Bottle-Capping Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to bottle capping machines or thelike, and es pecially to those adapted to put what is termed a metalliccap and seal upon a bottle.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine of this class whichwill automaticallv adjust itself to bottles of various heights so thatthe insertion of a bottle of greater height will not be liable to befollowed by breakage of the bottle or injury to the machine.

A. further object is to provide a machine in which the capping dies willautomatically adjust themselves to bottles with necks or months ofvarious sizes and diameters and having other irregularities.

A further object is to provide a machine with a hopper and a chuteleading from the hoppe and having one end secured to the die headwhereby delivery of the caps or seals is made more eliicient.

A iurther object is to provide a machine which is entirely automatic inall its operations, especially with regard to the reversals of thecapping pistons at both ends of their line of movement.

A further object is to provide a machine which may be operated at highspeed witlr out danger of doing injury either to the bottles or machine.

Further objects are to provide a machine with a uniform and simplefeeding mechanism and a machine in which the dies will act upon thebottle and cap with a uniform pressure, irr spective of irregularitiesin the bottle.

Further objects are to provide an arrangement for easily controlling thespeed of such a machine, and to provide a machine which is simple inconstruction, easy to manipulate and not likely to get out of order.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear fromthe detailed description given below taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, but it isto be understood that changes, variations and modifications can beresorted to, which come Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 28, 1911.

Serial No. 662,878.

within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of the entire machine in elevation;Fig. 2, is view in elevation of the entire machine, taken at rightangles to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is an enlarged view in elevationin section, showing the bottle feeding mechanism; Fig. 4, is a view inelevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3 with the cappinghead removed; Fig. 5, is a plan view showing the table and feedingfingers, the machine support being shown in section; Fig. 6, is a viewin elevation taken in section through the operating cylinders, showingthe valve arrangement. Fig. 7, is a view in elevation taken at rightangles to that shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, is a section taken on line A Bof Fig. 6; Fig. 9, is a section taken on line C I) of Fig. 6; Fig. 10,is a section taken on line E F of Fig. 6; Fig. 11, is a sectional viewin elevation of the hopper; Fig. 12, is a view in elevation taken atright angles to that shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a section, enlarged,taken on the line G-H of Fig. 12; Fig. 13, shows a view in section of amodified form of the crimping or securing die showing the automaticmeans of the adjustment of the same; and, Fig. 14, is a plan view insection of the modified form of the crimping die shown in Fig. 13.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 is the column which forms the base upon which the machine rests.

2 is the table adjust-ably secured to column 1 by set screws 4. and maybe raised to accommodate it to the filling machine (not shown) againstwhich it is placed.

3 is a leaf hinged to table 2.

5 is a rubber pad let into table 2 and flush therewith, and upon whichthe bottle rests while being capped.

6 is a fence for retaining the bottles in prppei position on table 2.

l is the pawl chamber in which operate pawls 8, 9 being the springs tokeep the pawls engaged, and 10 are the teeth on sleeve 11 with which thepawls engage, the pawls being pivoted to pawl chamber 7 having anoutside sleeve 17 attached thereto.

11 is a sleeve journaled on hollow shaft 12 at 13 and let, and is hungnear its upper end on ball bearing 15 working in a groove in hollowshaft 12.

Patented Apr. 28 1814;.

heing ar 'anged to give over i one- ;th ot a turn of the sleeve 11. inthe vert .Hl nmveinent or stroke of pinv 20. Pin operates through astraight vertical slot 23 i iollow shaiit 12. Tin 20 operates hopper oiierat Hr rod lilollow shaft 12 is adably secured in column 1 for heightto is is a collar seciu'ed in the upper end of sleeve 11 to hold ballbearing 15 in position.

is a

tence secured. to table 2, and acts 27 are throwing oil guides, one ofwhich operates hetween table 9 2 nd lingers .6, and the other operatingjust above fingers 16, both guides being secured to table 2.

28 is the hopper which consists of shell 29,

at the side oil which revolves disk 30 Figs. 11. and In disk 30 aremagnets 31 arranged so as to come in contact with c; ps in the hopper.in the line of rotation of the i '1 is gage 3'2, fitt'ng the caps whenin proper position and through which such caps as are in position maypass and enter chute 35-3, tl aps which are not in proper position on.the magnets being wiped oil by the gage.

Eel is the lower chute telescoping over the lower end Oil the chute 38and secured at its lower end to cap holder 81, so that as cap holder 81moves up and down it forces the upper end of chute to slide over thelower end of chute 33, which is secured to the hopper shell 3i the pawlframe loosely mounted on the :t'ront end of shaft 38 to which frame areattache l pawls 2:37, which pawls operate ratchet and dist: 30 bothsecured to plli it 38 to rotate together.

lie )per shell 99 is secured to hollow shaft 12, by means oi? hopper asc39.

h? is the main cylinder which is secured to hollow shaft 12, by means oflugs 1-1 and c: liar l2 J 1, 2, (3 and '7). At the lower end o1: maincylinder is secured lower cylind r had d3, and packing ower cylinderhead .8 (hip and T) epc rates iston cylinder 46, to w.

prison c3 inner ieat it,

-15 is the n 1361' main cylinder head. Thrown l W is secured lowerthrough which latter head operates piston 48, the lower end of whichcarri' s the cap hold down 4.9, lay n'ieans of a pivot or screw 50,

nee y/re which screw allows of angular adjustment, the hold down 49being maintained in normal position by spring To piston 48 is securedpiston head 52, which operates in piston cylinder 46. Piston head 52carries adjustable Valve ope 'a'ting rod 53, which may be adjusted byscrew threads 5% and lock nut above washer 57. This adjustment togetherwith the adjustment of adjustable sleeve 79, controls the relativestroke of cap hold down 1:9, and capping die 83, required by dillerentheights of caps. Piston is packed in piston cylinder 16 by cup washer56, which cup washer is spread by washer 57 and secured by lock nut 55.The upper end of piston cylinder d6, is form-ed into a head 58 in whichis a valve opening with its seat 59. Valve 60 operates on valve seat 59,and is attached to valve stem (31, which is a long stem ope 'atingthrough adjustable sleeve 79, and main piston head 72, and havingsecured thereon valve 32 and reverse stop (33. In the upper end ofpiston cylinder 16 are openings or holes 3-11, to allow 'erruptedCOIHHlllillCDllOl] between main cylinder and piston cylinder 16.

is a space connecting passages 6-6 and (57 with the portat valve (30.Passages 66 and 67 open into the upper end of main cylinder 410, thusforming when valve is open a direct passage between piston cylinder 46and the upper end of main cylinder 40.

(.39 is a cup washer, packing the piston cylinder 4:6 in main cylinder40, and is held.

in place by junk piece 70, through which the pasrages 66 and 67 extend,and through which valve stem (31 operates.

71 bolts for holding main piston head 72, junk piece 70, and cup \asher(39 to pis ton cylinder head Between. main piston 72 and junk piece iscxhaut passage 73. In main piston head is alve seat 68, on which seatsvalve (32. In main piston head 72 are secured exhaust pipes 74:, whichpipes op rate through main cylinder head i5, and are Jacked therein bycup wrshers to.

77 is the main inlet, and TS is the exhaust or outlet leading from theexhaust cha1nher 80.

T9 is an adjustable sleeve in piston head 1-5, and forms the upper al'vecheck. and causes an automatic reverse. Through this sleeve operatesvalve stem 81 is the cap holder secured to die block 82, which block issecured to lower cylinder head 47.

83 's the cappii'ig die secured to die block 82.

Set is an opening in cap holder 81. tln'ough which the caps enter fromtelescopic connector 34.

is the operating pump, drawing its supply "from reservoir 86.

S7 is an automatic pressure relief valve in the main. line of piping 89,between the ltd pump and the main cylinder, and dis charges its overflowinto the reservoir.

88 is an automatic pressure valve in the exhaust line of pipe 90, andwill not allow any fluid to reach the exhaust, until a certain pressureis reached.

is the discharge pipe connecting the exhaust outlet 78 with thereservoir 86.

91 is the control valve in main line of pipe 89.

92 is a spring secured to the top end of adjustable valve operating rodand closes the valve 60 quickly after the cylinder 16 has moved apredetermined distance relatively to the piston 52. 93 is a springoperating in a similar manner, between adjustable sleeve '79 and valve62. 91 is a spring which operates in a similar manner, betweenadjustable sleeve 7 9 and reverse stop 63.

75 is an opening in the lower end of piston cylinder 46, forming arelief from the rear of piston 52 to permit the escape of fluids whichmight get under said piston.

In the modified form of my crimping die shown in Figs. 13 and 1e, is asectional die held in place and operated upon by pistons 96 whichoperate in cylindrical holes 98.

97 are adjusting screws which form the cylinder heads for the purpose oflimiting the movement of piston 96.

99 are cup washer packings secured to pistons 96.

is a die holder in which are formed the cylindrical holes 98.

101 is a fluid passage connecting all of the cylindrical holes and isformed in the die holder 100.

102 is a fluid passage in the walls of piston cylinder 416 and in a pipebelow said cylinder connecting cylinder 4L6 near the upper end thereofwith fluid passage 101.

The operation of the described embodiment of my invention is as follows:The bottles having been filled by a filling machine, are delivered tothe table between fences 6 and 26, the latter guiding them off of thefilling machine platform and into position to be operated upon by one ofthe fingers 16 which carry the bottles into position for capping on therubber pad 5. Assuming that a bottle has just been capped and that thecapping head is ascending from the bottle but has not quite reached itsextreme upward movement, the position of the parts will be as shown inthe drawings (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 13 being the more important figures tobe considered in the following statement of operation). In this positionof the apparatus the fluid is being admitted through inlet port 77 intocylinder 16 and is exerting downward pressure upon the hold-down-cappiston 52 to hold it in the lower end of cylinder 46, and is exertingpressure upon the upper end 58 of cylinder 16 and upon the cup washer69,

to force the main piston head 72 and its attached capping parts upward,the valve 60 during this time being closed to prevent the flow of fluidto the upper surface of the piston head 72, and valve 62 being open topermit the fluid in the upper end of cylinder 10 above the piston head72 to discharge through said valve 62, exhaust passage 73, and throughpipes 74: to the exhaust chamber 80 and thence through the exhaust port78. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, as the capping head continues to ascend,it is guided vertically by the engagement of pin 20 with the slot 23 insleeve 12; and roller 21 mounted on said pin engaging the upper curvedportion of slot 22 in the sleeve 11 (Fig. 1) causes the sleeve 11 andthe finger 16 to be moved to the left a sixth of a revolution, therebybringing the next filled bottle into position on the rubber pad. Thecapping head cylinder 46 continues to ascend until the upper end ofspring 93 engages the lower end of sleeve 79 serving as an upper stop orabutment for the spring 93, whereupon valve stem 61 carrying valve 62 isthrust downward by spring 93, closing the valve 62 and opening valve 60carried at the lower end of the rod 61. During the upward movement ofthe parts the spring 92 between valve rod 53 and valve 60 was placedunder slight tension, but this was insutficient to open valve 60 againstthe fluid pressure exerted on the lower surface of the valve, and thevalve thus remained closed as stated, until spring 93 on rod 61 engagedthe lower end of sleeve 79, whereupon valve 60 was immediately openedand valve 62 immediately closed with a quick action. This feature ofhaving these valves 60 and 62 held open until the limit of the desiredmovements of the parts and then quickly closed, is very important, sinceit will be seen that *ithout some such provision, just before the partsreach their extreme upward movaemenfivalve 62 would commence toclose andvalve 60 commence to open, whereupon fluid would flow directly fromcylinder 46 through the partly opened valve 60, passage 73, passageways66, 67 (Figs. S10), into the upper end of cylinder 40 and through thepartly closed valve 62 and pipes 74 into the exhaust chamber 80,whereupon the apparatus might stop. The closing of the valve 62 cuts offthe exhaust-of fluid from the upper end of the cylinder 40 above thehead 72 through passage 73 and pipes 74, and the opening of valve 60admits fluid pressure from inner cylinder 16 through the valve 60 intothe passage 65, and through openings 66, 67 (Figs. 8 and 9), passingthrough junk piece 70 and head 72 and opening directly into the upperend of cylinder 40 above head 72; whereupon the head 7 2 with theattached cylinder 46 and capping parts, is moved downward due to thegreater effective area of the upper surface of head '72 presented to theReid pressure as compared to the etlective area below said head. Thehead 72 with its capping parts continues to descend with the respectivecapping parts remaining in their relative positions until. cap-hold downl9 presses the cap upon the bottle (a cap having in the meantime passedthrough cap chute 34-. in position in cap holder 81 to be pressed uponthe top of the bottle by cap-holddown head 49), whereupon the downwardmovement of the cap-hold-down piston 48 is arrested, but capping head 72carrying the cylinder 16 with its lower cylinder head 4LT carrying thecrimping dies 95, continues to descend with respect to the ca i-holddownpiston until the valve 60 is closed and valve 62 opened by thecompression of spring 92 due to relative movement between the caphold-down piston 48 and the cylinder head ll. The crimping dies 95 areat all times forced inwardly by the fluid pressure which flows from themain cylinder ell) through pass-aye 102, passage 101, into the spacesback ot the piston 96, so that the crinn ing dies as they are broughtdown to the cap, at once force the rim or flange inward by fluidpressure to crimp the cap beneath or around the lip or crown of thebottle.

The valve having been closed and the valve 62 opened as a result of therelative i'uovement between piston lS and head 47, the fluid above themain cylinder head 72 now exhausted through valve (32 and pipes 7t intothe exhaust cylinder 80 and the head i2 carrying the cylinder slit andits head l'l' is now moved upward while the cap-holddown piston it;remains tirmly pressed upon the cap by fluid pressure on pis on headuntil the lower side of the head 52 of this piston is engaged by theupper end of the i vlindcr head all. This relative movement is e but topermit the capping die to be withdrawn tree of the bottle beiiore thecap hold-down is lifted from the cap whereupon a cap is immediately fedinto position in the cap holder 81 for the next capping oporation. Thecapping head parts all continue to move upward together until spring i-l again engages the lower end of sleeve 79, whereupon valve 32 isimmediately closed with a quick, sudden n'iovement and valve similarlyopeneih whereupon the parts commence to descend to cap the next bottle,etc.

From the previous description of the operation ot the parts, it will beunderstood that should no bottle be placed under the Ctlpi'llllg heaththe downward movement of the parts will nevertheless be stopped and theupward. movement commenced by the closing of valve 60 and the og ieningof valve as by the engagement of reverse stop 63 at the upper end of rod61 with spring 9 1 at the upper end of sleeve T9 which takes place whenthe main piston head Z 2 reaches the lower extremity of its desiredtravel, givin valve rod 61 a quick upward thrust to operate thesevalves.

lit will be observed. that the adjustable valve operating rod 53carrying the spring 92 at its upper end is adjusted according to theheight of the caps, so as to permit such relative movement betweenpiston 48 and head 4:7 as will allow the die 95 carried by the head t?to pass down to the side of the cap so that it will. be in position tocrimp the cap and clench it on the lip or rim of the bottle. will alsobe observed that the cap is pressed down upon the bottle with automatically regulated pressure, and that fluid pressure is continuouslyexerted upon piston head 52 to press the cap firmly upon the bottle, iotonly during the time while the cylinder head 457 carrying the dies isdescending and while the dies are crimping the cap around the bottlelip, but also during the withdrawal of the dies from the cap by theupward movement of cylinder head 43? and until the dies are clear of thecap, at which time the upper end of the cylinder head 17 by eneagino thelower surface of the piston head 52 ill withdraw the caphold-down member1:9 from the cap.

It will also be noted that the pressure with which the dies act to crimpthe caps on the bottles is determined. by the pressure at which thepressure relief valve 87 is set to operate to permit the fluid to passthrough the bypass pipe to the discharge pipe 90. The speed of theapparatus is largely determined by the diil'erence in pressure at whichthe pressure relief valves 87 and 88 are set to open, so that the speedmay be regulated without changing the pressure with which the dies a ct,and vice versa.

FY0111 the above it will be clear that l: have provided a machine of theclass described in which the reverse movemnt is dependent upon apredetermined relative mwement be tween the two fluid pressure operated.elements so that ii. irregular bottles of diiiterent heights are broughtinto 0 era'tive position in. the machine the capping mechanism isautomatically adjusted to all such bottles and there is no tendency tobreak the bottles or injure the machine. "l hus as soon as the crimpingdies pass a certain distance beyond the top of the bottle a reversemovement is automatically produced. it will also be noticed tl at whenthe reciprocating' elements move upward a reverse movement is causedautomatically 3y the springthat is responsive to a predeterminedmovement of the crimping means away from the bot tle holding means.

lhn'thermore the arrangemont o'f the two operating pistons one withinthe other, with the automatic control valves 60 and 62, forms a simpleautomatic means for controlling the reciprocations of the pistons, asdesired. By arranging the main piston head with a port therethrough, thevalves and (52 controlling this port and the exhaust port are conveniently arranged to be operated by the relative predetermined movement ofone piston with respect to the other.

By arranging the crimping dies 95 to be pressed inwardly by fluidpressure the dies will operate equally well upon the mouths of bottlesof irregular shape and will not be liable to cause breakage of thebottles nor will injury be caused to the dies because of such irregularshape. Furthermore, the valves 87, SS and 91 form suitable means forregulating the operating fluid pressure and the speed of the machine bychecking the flow of liuid through the machine and the pressure of thefluid supplied, when a predetermined pressure of fluid is reached, andchecking the exhaust of the fluid until a predetermined pressure isreached. The fingers 16 not automatically to move the bottles in theoperative position on the table and the chutes and deliver the capsautomatically to the capping head. The chute 3% being rigidly connectedwith the head is always in position to deliver a cap thereto at theproper time and cannot get out of register with the head. By arranging amain working piston with different effective pressure areas on itsreverse working side I am enabled to obtain all the parts in a smallspace, with the hold down piston within the main piston cylinder,whereby the various parts are eiiiciently and simply arranged.

here, in the appended claims, I have referred to the cap-hold-downelement and the crimping dies by such-terms as cap-holddown means, die,device or member and cap-crimping means, dies or members, I do not wishto be understood as limiting these claims to any particular device rarrangement for holding down and crimping the caps, for obviouslyvarious forms of cap-crimping dies may be used, and the caphold-downmeans may, if desired, be simply the extension of the piston, withoutanyspecial provision, although the form shown has its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, devices forsecuring the caps to the bottles embracing a cap-hold-down member andcooperating crimping means, and means operatively controlled by a predetermined movement of the crimping means with respect to thecap-hold-down member for causing the securing devices to be withdrawnfrom the bottle after a cap is s cured thereon.

2. Bottle capping apparatus comprising ra e a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons tocause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a capis secured. thereon, said means embracing devices carried by one pistonand devices carried by the other piston cooperating therewith forcausing a reverse movement of both pistons under fluid pressure.

3. The combination of a bottle support, two relatively movable fluidpressure oper ated pistons, a cap-holddown member carried by one piston,cap-crimping means carried by the other piston, means operativelycontrolled by the relative movement or the pistons for controlling theaction of the fluid to cause the withdrawal of the piston carrying thecrimping means without removing the cap-holddown member, and connectionsbetween the cap-holddown member and the crimping means for removing theholddown member whereby the cap-hold-down is pressed against the cap byfluid pressure until the crimping means has been withdrawn past thehold-down member.

4. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons tocause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a capis secured thereon, said controlling means embracing a valved portthrough one of said pistons.

5. Bottle capping apparatus comprising two fluid pressure operatedpistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps on the bottles, acylinder for one of the pistons and an exhaustv tube carried by onepiston and sliding through the head of said cylinder.

6. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons tocause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a capis secured thereon, said means embracing a valve carried by one pistonto cause the space on one side thereof to be exhausted.

7. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means operatively controlled automatically by themovements of the apparatus for controlling the movement of the pistonsto cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after acap is secured thereon and for causing the pistons to automatically movetoward the bottles.

8. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing "he capsto the bottles, and means for con trolling the movement of the pistonsto cans the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle alter a capis secured thereon, said means embracing a valve carried by one pistonto cause the space on one side thereoji to be exhausted and means foroperating said valve at a certain point in the movement of the pistonstoward the bottle support when no bottle is present.

9. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons tocause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a capis secured thereon and a cylinder for each piston, one of the cylindersbeing czrried on the underneath side of one of the pistons.

10. Bottle cappin apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluidpressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the capsto the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons tocause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a capis secured thereon and a cylinder for each 1 ston, one of the cylindersbeing carried on the under neath side of one of the pistons, and saidcylinders being connected by always open ports so that one piston willbe held down while the other is partially withdrawn.

11. Bottle capping apparatus comprising fluid. n'es ure oicrated canninmeans a l l 1 pipe iior supplying fluid under pressure thereto, anexhaust pipe therefor, a by-pass pipe eirteiuling between the supplypipe and the exhaust pipe, a safety valve in the bypass pipe limitingthe pressure at which the nuid is supplied to the capping means and asalty valve in the exhaust pipe for crea certain back pressure therein.

it machine for capping bottles or the like, having reciprocating fluidpressure operated devices for securing caps to the bot tles or the like,including fluid pressure opcrated crimping dies, means for automaticallycontrolling the reciprocations of said devices, a passage supplyingfluid under pressure thereto, a passage for exhausting the fluidtherefrom, means for regulating the pressure of the fluid. supplied, andmeans i for independently regulating "he pressure of the fluid exhaustwhereby the speed of fluid pressure operated devices may be regulatedwithoutchanging the pressure with which the devi res operate and viceversa.

in a fluid pres. re operated bottle capping machine, a pair of fluidpressure operated elements for holding and crimping a cap upon a bottle,means for supplying fluid under pressure to said elements to anse themto shift to operative position,

and automatic means for changing the action of the fluid upon saidelements for causin them to move away from the bottle, and for causingthe repetition of said movements, in combination with an automaticbottle feeding mechanism working in time relation therewith.

14,-. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a maincylinder with a port for admission of fluid thereto, a main.lltlltl-PITGSSHlG-OPQlt'llGd piston in said cylinder, a cylindercarried at the lower side oi? the main piston within said main cylinderand of such diameter as to provide a space for fluid between its outerwall and the in ner wall of the main cylinder, said inner cylinderhaving a port for admitting fluid thereto, a piston carried at the lowerend. or the inner cylinder and operated therein by fluid pressure, avalved port for admitting fluid from one side of the main piston to theother side thereoit, an exhaust port through which the fluid isexhausted from the main cylinder above the main piston, the lower end ofthe inner cylinder and the piston operating therein having provision forholding a. cap down upon a bottle and securing it thereto, and havingrelative movement during said operation, and an automatically operatedvalve controlling flow of fluid to the upper surface of the main pistonand actuated after said relative movement of said last mentionedcylinder and lower piston for effecting the return of: said piston andcylinder from the bottle.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a fluidpressure operated element for holding the cap upon the bottle, a fluidpressure operated element for securing the cap to the bottle, and meansop eratively controlled by a predetermined movement of one of saidelements relative to the other of said elements for causing saidelements to move away from the bottle.

16. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, devices forsecuring the caps to the bottles, embracing a cap-holddown membera'ndcooperating crimping means, and means operativcly controlled by apredetermined movement Olli the crimping means with respect to theap-hold-down member for causing the securing devices be withdrawn fromthe bottle after a cap is secured thereon, said means emln'acing devicesfor automatically causing the securing devices to move toward anotherbottle. to cure a cap thereon.

17. A bottle capping n'iaehine or the like having in combination acvliruler, a fluid pressure operated. piston cylinder operating in saidcylinder, a die carried by said piston cylinder for crimping or securingthe cans to the bottle or the like, a fluid pr sure operated pistonoperating in said piston cyliu der, means carded by said piston forholding the cap or the like, and means operatively controlled by apredetermined relative movement between said piston cylinder and pistonirrespective of variations in the bottles operated upon for causing saidpiston cylinder and piston to move away from the bottle.

18. it bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a pairof fluid pressure operating elements for holding and crimping orsecuring a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for causing saidelements to move away from the bottles after the capping operation,responsive to a predetermined movement of one element relative to theother, and for causing said elements to more toward the bottlesresponsive to a predetermined movement of the elements.

19. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a pairof fluid pressure operated pistons for holding and clenching a cap on abottle or the like, a pas sage supplying fluid under pressure to saidpistons, a passage for exhausting the fluid from said pistons, a safety"alve in the supply passage for limiting the supply pressure of theapparatus, a safety valve in said exhaust passage for limiting theexhaust pressure of the apparatus, and means for causing said pistons tomove away from the bottle dependent on a predetermined relative movementbetween the pistons.

20. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination, apairof reciprocating fluid pressure operated pistons carrying cap holdingand crimping mechanism, means for automatically feeding caps tooperative position with respect to the bottles and crimping means, andan automatic valve device for causing repetition of the reciprocationsof the pistons automatically.

In a bottle capping machine or the like, a bottle support, a die forpressing a cap to the bottle, a die for crimping a cap on the bottle,means for moving said dies by fluid pressure to the bottle andcontinuing the movement of the crimping die after the holding die hasstopped and presses a cap on the bottle, and means operativelycontrolled by the relative movement of said dies for causing a reversemovement of the crimping die moving means while the holding die stillpresses the cap on the bottle.

In a bottle capping machine or the like, a bottle support, a die forpressing a cap to the bottle, a die for crimping a cap on the bottle,relatively movable means for moving said dies by fluid pressure to thebottle and continuing the movement of the crimping die after the holdingdie has stopped and presses a cap on the bottle, and means operativelycontrolled by the relative movement of said dies for causing a reversemovement of the crimping die moving means while the holding die stillpresses the cap on the bottle, and means for causing a reverse movementof the holding die moving means when the crimping die has moved awayfrom the bottle a predetermined distance.

23. A machine for capping bottles or the like, having reciprocatingfluid pressure operated devices for securing caps to the bot tles or thelike, a passage supplying fluid under pressure thereto, a passage forexhausting the fluid therefrom, means for regulating the pressure of thefluid supplied, and means for independently regulating the pressure ofthe fluid exhaust, whereby the speed of fluid pressure operated devicesmay be regulated without changing the pressure with which the devicesoperate, and vice versa.

24. A bottle capping machine or the like having, in combination, a pairof reciprocating fluid pressure operated pistons carrying cap holdingand crimping means, mechanism for feeding caps to operative positionwith respect to the bottles, and an automatically operated valve devicecontrolling the pistons to cause a reversal of their movements in bothdirections, whereby repetitions of the reciprocations of the pistons areautomatically produced.

25. In a fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, a cylinder,a die carrying piston operating in said cylinder having differenteffective working areas on its reverse working sides and provided with apassage for fluid therethrough, and means for controlling the flow ofoperating fluid through said piston whereby the fluid may at one timeoperate only upon one of said areas and at another time operate on bothof said areas, and means whereby the fluid acting on the larger of saidareas may be exhausted.

26. In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination ofcrimping dies and means for maintaining a uniform pressure on thecrimping dies in crimping a cap on a bottle irrespective of theirregularities in the neck or crown of the bottle, said means comprisingfluidoperated means for moving the dies and means for connecting saidmoving means with the fluid pressure maintained within the machine.

27. A bottle capping machine or the like ha'ing in combination acylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston operating in said cylinder, asecond cylinder secured to said piston, a second fluid pressure operatedpiston operating in said second cylinder, means for holding down the capor the like carried by said second piston, means for crimping orsecuring the cap or the like in place carried by said first piston, saidfirst piston having a port therethrough, a valve for opening and closingsaid port, and means carried by the second piston for opening andclosing said valve.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a maincylinder, a lluid. pressure operated piston and cylinder therein, asecond fluid pressure operated piston operating in said last mentionedcylinder, the first piston having a port therethrough for connecting oneend of the main cylinder with the other end thereof, means for openingand closing said port dependent upon a predetermined relative movementbetween the two pistons, a cap holding means carried by one piston and acap crimping means carried by the other piston.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in (annbination a maincylinder, a lluid pressure operated piston and cylinder therein, asecond fluid pressure operated piston operating in said last mentionedcylinder, the first piston having a port therethrough for connecting oneend of the main cylinder with the other end thereof, an eX- haust portcarried by said first cylinder, valves for opening and closing saidports, means for operating said valves dependent upon certainpredetermined relative moveinenis between the two pistons, a cap holdingmeans carried by one piston and a cap crimping means carried by theother piston.

30. A. bottle capping machine or the like having inv combination a maincylinder. a [laid pressure operated piston operating thereii'i, a secondcylinder connected to said piston, a second piston operating in the lastmentioned cylinder, an exhaust port carried by said first piston, avalve for opening and closing said exhaust port, means for operatingsaid valve responsive to a predetermined movement at one piston relativeto the other, a cap holding means carried by one piston and a. c: pcrimping means carried by the other piston.

31. A bottle capping machine or the like having in combii'iation, a maincylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston operating therein, a secoinlcylinder connected to said. piston, a second piston operating in thelast mentioned cylinder, an exhaust port carried by said first pistonand embracing a pipe extending and reciprocating through the head oi.the main cylinder, a valve for opening and. closing said exhaust port,means for operating said valve responsive to a predetermined movementoi? one piston relative to the other, av cap holding means carried byone piston and. a cap crimping means carried by the other piston.

2&2. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a pairof tluid. pressure operating elements for holding and crimping orsecuring a cap upon a bottle or the like, and means for causing saidelements to move toward. the bottles responsive to a predeterminedmovement of the elements.

38. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination amaincylinder, a piston and second cylinder operating therein, a secondpiston operating in the second cylinder, a cap holding means carried byone piston and a cap crimping means carried by the other piston, andmeans for causing said pistons to move toward the bottles responsive toa predetermined movement of the pistons away from the bottles or thelike.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a cylinder, afluid pressure operated piston operating in said cylinder, a secondcylinder secured to said. piston, a second fluid pressure operatedpiston operating in said second cylinder, means for holding down the capor the like carried by said second piston, means for crim iiing orsecuring the cap or the like in place carried by said first piston, saidfirst piston having a port therethrough, a valve for opening and closingsaid port, a member 'arried by the second piston and a spring operatingbetween said member and valve for closing the valve.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a pair offluid pressure operating elements for holding and crimping or securing acap upon a bottle or the like, means for c: ising said elements to moreto 'ard the bottles responsive to a predetermined movement of theelements, said means embracing a valve carried by one of the elementsfor controlling the application of fluid pressure to operate theelements, and

i a spring operating between said valve and a fixed part of the machinefor closing said valve.

36. A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination. a fluidpressure operated means tor holding the cap upon the bottle or the like,and a fluid pressure operated means for crimping the cap upon the bottleor the like, said last mentioned means embracing crimping dies cushionedby fluid pressure to produce the crimping action.

37. A. bottle capping machine or the like having in coml'iination meansfor holding the cap on the bottle or the like, and means for crimpingthe cap upon the bottle or the like. said last mentioned means embracinga phirality of crimping dies each forced by fluid pre sure to crimp thecap on the bottle or the like.

38. In a bottle capping machine or the like a cap crii'nping headembracing a plurality ot crimping dies and a plurality of pistons :lortorcing said dies laterally by lluid. pressure to crimp the caps on thebottles or the like.

39. In. a bottle capping machine or the like, a fluid. pressure operatedcap holding means, and fluid pressure operated vertically reciprocatingcap crimping means, said last mentioned means embracing a plurality ofcrimping dies forced laterally by fluid pressure to crimp the caps onthe bottles or the like.

40. In a bottle capping machine or the like, means for holding thebottle or the like, means movable relatively to the holding means andbottle for crimping a cap upon the bottle, means for causing thecrimping means to move relatively toward the holding means responsive toa predetermined movement thereof away from the holding means, and meansfor causing a reverse relative movement of the holding means andcrimping means responsive to a certain., predetermined movement of thecrimping means with respect to the bottle, whereby the machineautomatically adjusts itself for bottles of varying heights.

4.1. A bottle capping apparatus or the like having in combination, fluidpressure operated means for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like,means for supplying an operating fluid to said means, means for checkingthe pressure of fluid supplied when a predetermined pressure of thefluid is reached, and means for checking the exhaust of the fluid fromthe apparatus until a predetermined pressure of exhaust fluid isreached.

42. A bottle capping apparatus or the like, having in combination, fluidpressure operated means for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like,means for automatically causing the clenching means to move away fromthe bottle or the like, dependent upon a predetermined movement of theclenching means, means for supplying an operating fluid to theapparatus, and means for limiting the pressure of the fluid supplied toopcrate the clenching means.

43. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination, acylinder, a piston cylinder operating in said cylinder, a pistonoperating in said piston cylinder, parts carried by said piston cylinderand piston for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like, means forcausing said piston cylinder and piston to move away from the bottle,and adjustable means carried by the piston for controlling saidreversing means.

l i. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination meansfor securing the caps on the bottles or the like, a hopper for the caps,a disk rotatable in a path in communication with the hopper, a pluralityof magnets extending in parallel and horizontally in said disk wherebysaid disk will pick up caps from the hopper by magnetic attraction, thecaps attaching themselves to the vertical side of the disk, and meansfor conveying the caps from the disk to said cap securing means.

45. A fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, having incombination a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and carryingcap securing means, said piston having difl'erent effective pressureareas 011 its reverse working sides, means for admitting fluid throughsaid piston from the smaller eflective working area side of the pistonto the larger effective working area side of the piston, and means forexhausting the fluid from said larger side.

46. A fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, having incombination a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and carryingcap securing means, said piston having different effective pressureareas on its reverse working sides, means for admitting fluid throughsaid piston from the smaller effective working area side of the pistonto the larger effective working area side of the piston, means forexhausting the fluid from said larger side, and means dependent oncertain predetermined movements of the piston for controlling theoperation of said admitting means and exhausting means.

47. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine, having incombination a piston chamber, a pair of fluid pressure operated pistonsextending within said chamber and adapted when operated to hold a capdown and secure it upon a bottle, one of said pistons carrying anexhaust passage leading out of said chamber, means for establishingfluid communication between the ends of the chamber, means forestablishing fluid communication between one end of the chamber and theexhaust passage, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to theother end of said chamber.

48. In a bottle capping machine or the like, a securing die comprising aplurality of separate sections for securing a bottle cap or the like inposition, each section being provided with means whereby it may bepressed by fluid pressure, and means for supplying fluid under pressurethereto.

49. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of two relativelymovable pistons having provision at their lower ends cooperating tosecure a cap upon a bottle, said pistons having provision for automaticreversal of their movement opcratively con trolled by predeterminedrelative movement between them, for withdrawing the said capsecuringmeans from the bottle after the cap has been secured.

50. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of two relativelymovable poweroperated pistons, one of said pistons having provision atits lower end for pressing a cap upon a bottle, crimping dies carried atthe lower end of the other piston to crimp the cap 011 the bottle, thepistons being arranged so that the first piston presses the cap upon thebottle before the crimping dies are brought into operative position bythe second piston, and means operatively controlled by the relativemovement of the pistons, for controlling the reversal oi the pistons tocause them to be automatically withdrawn from the bottle alter the caphas been socured.

51. in a bottle capping machine, the combination oi two relativelymovable power operated pistons having provision at their lower endscooperating to secure a cap upon a bottle, the pistons being so arrangedthat one moves with respect to the other after said other has pressedthe cap upon the bottle, and means operated responsive to predeterminedrelative movement between the pistons, 'for causing the reversal of thepistons after the cap is secured, said last n'ientioncd means havingprovision for adjustment for varying the desired relative movement betwen the pistons to adapt them to caps and bottle crowns ct diterentshapes.

in a bottle capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, tworelatively movable lluid pressureoperated pistons having provision attheir lower ends for pressing a cap upon a bottle and for then crimpingthe cap upon. the bottle, said pistons being arranged to move one withrespect to the other after said other has pressed a cap upon the bottle,a valve operatively related to the pistons and automatically operatedafter they relative movement between the pistons, for exhausting thefluid pressure from the cylinder to permit the withdrawal of the pistonsfrom the bottle, and adjusting means for varying the desired relativemovement be tween the pistons in securing the cap on the bottle, toadapt them to caps and bottle crowns of different shapes.

in a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of acylinder, a plurality of relatively movable fluid-pressureoperatedpistons having provision at their lower ends for pressing the cap uponthe bottle and for then crimping the cap upon the bottle including acap-hold-down part and cooperating cap-crimping dies, with means carriedthe lower end of one of the pistons and operated therein by fluidpressure for forcing the crimping dies against the cap, and meansconnecting said last fluid pressure operating means with the cylinderfor conveying fluid to operate said means.

In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of acylinder, at plurality of relatively movable tluid-pressureoperatedpistons, a cap-hold-down part carried at the lower end of one of saidpistons for engaging and pressing a cap upon a bottle, cooperatingeap-crinnaing dies for crimping the cap upon the bottle,fluidpressure-operated. means for forcing the dies inward intoengagement with the cap oeepvc after the cap has been pressed upon thebottle by the hold-down part, and means controlled responsive to therelative movement between said pistons after the caphold-down parthasengaged the bottle, for causing the release of the crimping dies fromthe cap.

55. In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of acylinder, a plurality of relatively movable tlui iln'essui'ooperatedpistons, a caphold-down part at the lower end oi? one o:[ the pistons,cooperating crimping dies carried at the lower end of the othe" piston,fluid-pressure-operated means carried by said last piston for torcingsaid crimping dies into position to en gage and crimp the cap, and meanscontrolled. responsive to predetermined elative movement between thepistons and 0p erated immediately upon the completion oil: the relativemovement, for exhausting the fluid pressure to permit the withdrawal ofthe pistons from the bottle.

56. In a fluid-pressure-operated bottle capping machine, the combinationof a eylinder, a plurality of relatively movable fluid-pressureoperatedpistons, one of said pistons having provision at its lower end forpressing a cap upon a. bottle, cooperating cap-crimping dies carried bythe other pis ton, said pistons being so arranged that the last pistonis moved with respect to the other after said other has pressed a capupon the bottle, and means ope "atively controlled by the relativemovement of: said pistons to cause automatic reversal of thecrimping-die-carrying piston to withdraw the crimping dies after the caphas been socured to the bottle and to cause the caphold-down piston tobe firmly pressed upon the cap until the crimping dies have been w i thdrawn.

5?. In a fluid-pressure-operated bottle capping machine, thecombination. of a cylinder, a plurality of relatively movablefluidpressure operated pistons, one of said pistons having provision atits lower end for pressing the cap upon a bottle, cooperatingcap-crimping dies carried by the other piston, the pistons being soarranged that the first piston presses the cap upon the bottle beforethe crimping dies are brought into operative position by the secondpiston, and valve mechanism controlling the fluid pressure, operativelycontrolled by the relative movement of the pistons, for causing thereversal of the second piston to withdraw the crimping dies from thecap, while maintaining the fluid pressure on the first piston until thedies have been withdrawn from the cap.

58. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a maincylinder, a main iiuid-pressure-operated piston in said cylinder, acylinder carried at the lower end of said main piston and of lessdiameter than the main cylinder so as to provide a space between theouter wall of said inner cylinder and the inner wall of the outercylinder for fluid, a port for admitting fluid to the main cylinderbelow the main piston during the reciprocations of the piston, a portfor admitting fluid from the portion of the main cylinder below the mainpiston into the inner cylinder to maintain pressure therein during thereciprocations of the main piston, a piston carried at the lower end ofthe inner cylinder and having its upper surface constantly acted upon byfluid pressure to force it downward, said in ner piston being adapted atits lower end to engage and press a cap upon a bottle and the lower endof said inner cylinder having provision for effecting the crimping ofthe cap upon the bottle while it is held down by the said inner pistonand being movable relative to the inner piston, whereby it will movedownward after the inner piston has engaged the cap and will be liftedby fluid pressure from the bottle before the cap is released by theinner piston, a valved port controlling the flow of fluid from the low 3surface of the main piston to its upper surface controlled responsive tothe relative movement of the inner cylinder and its piston during thecapsecuring operation for returning said inner cylinder to move it awayfrom the bottle, and a valved exhaust port controlling the flow of fluidfrom the portion of the main cylinder above the main piston.

LOUIS I-I. BRINKMAN. Witnesses DANL F. REIsENWEBER, HENRY JANNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

